asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the scheme for the provision of a piped water supply to the village of Langton Herring is still held up owing to the difficulty of obtaining a 2 in. pipe to carry the supply from the reservoir to the village and nearby farms; and, since it is now nearly 12 months since his announcement that he was doing what he could to help, whether he will take steps to help the Dorchester Rural District Council to obtain the pipes required without further delay.

I am informed by the Dorchester Rural District Council that the 2 in. pipes have been delivered. I understand that the County Council are pressing for a larger main on one section for fire-fighting purposes, which may cause further delay.

asked the Minister of Health if the West Kesteven bore has now been sunk; and do the results justify a supply of water to the southern parishes of the Newark rural district.

No, Sir: the work was authorised in September, but must take some time to complete.

May I take it that constructional work in connection with the bore is still going on?

:Yes, substantially.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that, nearly two years ago, the Air Ministry offered to supply water to these houses and that that offer was not accepted by his Department? Cannot he do something to speed up this very urgent matter?

That is not the question on the Order Paper. The Question I was asked was how long it would take to complete this work. If the hon. Gentleman will put down the other question. I shall be happy to give him a reply.

asked the Minister of Health if Nottingham Corporation have now submitted to him their detailed scheme for a piped water supply to the southern part of the Bingham rural district.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health why the farms of Mr. S. Johnson, Mr. G. Shaw and Mr. C. Davidson, all of East Keal, Lincolnshire, have been excluded from the water scheme recently approved to cover this district; and if he is aware that the present water supply at Mr. Johnson's farm has been condemned and is a cause of illness and that Mr. Davidson is a dairy farmer; and what would be the extra cost of bringing the water supply to the vicinity of these farms.

The Spilsby Rural District Council omitted the extensions from their proposals because of the high costs. The supply to these farms is estimated to cost some £900.

In view of the recent Debate in which hon. Members on both sides of the House expressed their desire that something should be done to improve the water supply of rural areas, of which this is a typical example, may I plead with the Minister to reconsider this important matter? It is really a very short extension, and for the amount of assistance it is giving to property, the cost is really not too high.

I hope it cannot be regarded as typical that it will cost £900 to put water into two farms——

Three farms.

—three farms, because —900 is a very large amount of money. At any rate, the local authority has turned it down.

asked the Minister of Health what steps have been taken by his Department since the enactment of the Water Act, 1945, to assist amalgamations of water undertakings; and whether he has any new plans for accelerating developments of this character.

As the first stage, detailed surveys are being made by my engineering inspectors throughout the country. Fourteen surveys have been completed, and seven are in progress, which, together, will cover the greater part of the country. The action to be taken by my Department is being considered in the light of the information revealed by these surveys.

Is the Minister aware that, until these surveys are completed, a great many people in rural areas are unable to get water?

As the hon. and gallant Member knows, a very large number of additional services are being established in rural areas even now. Had these surveys been made many years ago, the people concerned would have had the water long before this.

asked the Minister of Health if, in order to make the fullest use of manpower in the building trades, he will allow local authorities freedom to grant private enterprise building licences in cases where the work will be done by the prospective house-owner and his friends.

Local authorities may use one-fifth of their share of the national housing programme for licences for private persons.

Putting aside prejudice in this matter, is there any good reason why a man with enterprise and skill should not be allowed to build a house for his family?

Not the slightest, if he has a licence from the local authority.

asked the Minister of Health if he will amend Circular 108/48, giving local authorities instructions for the issue of private enterprise building licences, so that the one-in-five ratio may be observed for the general public, irrespective of the priority licences for agricultural workers.

No, Sir. The allocation made to a local authority, which comprises all the houses to be built by them or with their approval, is the maximum number of houses which it is estimated can be built with the resources available.

Does the Minister realise that this priority for farm workers' houses is meaningless if it is to come out of the one-in-five ratio?

If I did not give priority for farm workers' houses, and other people were allowed to build houses in the district, they would use up all the labour for those other houses and there would not be houses for the farm labourers.

Does not the Minister realise that, whatever the purpose of this particular circular may be, the effect of it in several rural districts which I know has been that fewer licences have been given to private builders than before?

That may be so, but there may be much building activity in houses to rent.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the present cost of building, it is intended to amend the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act so as to raise the limit of price of houses on which borrowers may obtain loans under the Act.

:The matter is under consideration in connection with the Housing Bill to be introduced during this Session.

asked the Minister of Health whether deaf persons recommended for testing for the Medresco aural aid will be reimbursed travelling expenses when the nearest testing unit is at some distance from their homes.

Claims will be met by the hospital authority whenever they consider that the length of the journey justifies it.

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish the additional list of hospitals at which the Medresco aural aids will be available.

I will circulate the list in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Would my right hon. Friend say if this information is available to the areas concerned where these new centres are being set up?

The information is available, but, if the facilities are deficient, I will certainly look into the matter.

What I meant to ask was whether the Minister would publicise the information in East Anglia, for instance, at Norwich?

I hope some notice will be taken of the reply I have given today, but if some other advertisement is necessary, certainly I will arrange for it.

asked the Minister of Health if in view of his refusal to permit private patients to obtain pharmaceutical services free of charge he will withdraw the pamphlet, "The New National Health Service," in which it is stated that any person can use the whole or any part of the service; and, in view of this misleading statement, if he will issue a new pamphlet giving a factual statement of what people are entitled to receive.

No, Sir. People are perfectly free to use any part of the service; but there must be a limit to the extent to which parts can be subdivided. I should not feel justified in supplying medicines or appliances ordered by doctors who were not taking part in the service, and are under no obligation to observe its rules.

Is the Minister aware that many people feel that they have been grossly misled by this circular; and is he further aware that people feel that, having paid for this service, either directly or indirectly by taxation, they are entitled to receive a part of the service, as stated in the circular, free of charge at the time?

I am under an obligatio—and I should have thought that I should have been supported in this by all parts of the House—to defend expenditure. It ought not to be possible for a doctor who is not in the service, and, therefore, not subject to the discipline of the service, to prescribe for his private patients.

Is the Minister aware that it is not the doctors, but the patients about whom we are concerned?

A patient has the remedy in his or her own hands—to join the service.

asked the Minister of Health what are the average monthly earnings of dentists under the National Health Service.

I am afraid I am not yet in a position to supply this information. I have always made it clear to the dental organisations that while there is no question of going back on the Spens Report, I intend to check the timings of the various operations (on which fees are based) when the Scheme has settled down.

If the right hon. Gentleman cannot give me the precise information for which I have asked, can he say whether he has received any indication that the dentists are satisfied or not with their present earnings?

The dentists are entering this service as individuals apply for dental treatment under the Health Act. Over 85 per cent. of the dentists in the country are already in the service, which is evidence, I think, that the dentists are satisfied.

No, not at all.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that the granting of basic salaries under the National Health Service Act, 1946, is determined to a large extent by doctors who will themselves suffer financially if these are granted, he will take action to relieve these doctors of their invidious position.

It was the doctors themselves who asked for this modification of my original proposal.

Does not my right hon. Friend regard it as contrary to public policy to allow people to help to make decisions in which they are financially interested?

The doctors are always able to make an appeal to me against the decision of the executive council if they feel aggrieved.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the local executive councils are doing their utmost to dissuade doctors from opting for the basic salary; and will he see whether it is possible to create a separate pool out of which these salaries could be paid so that any doctor who wishes to have a salary could have it as a right, and without any means test?

I doubt very much whether the local executive councils are the people who are trying to dissuade doctors from taking the basic salary. It may be that members of the medical profession locally attempt to dissuade the doctors. which is a different matter from the executive councils doing it. But if a doctor feels aggrieved, he may appeal to me. If the profession wants an alteration in the procedure for which it asked itself. it can appeal to me.

asked the Minister of Education whether it is his intention to implement, without any further delay, the recommendation of the Percy Committee, supported by the Barlow Committee, over three years ago that there should be a selected number of colleges of technology in which there should be developed technological courses comparable with those of university courses; and whether university status will be given to some of these colleges of technology.

A Joint Committee of the National Advisory Council on Education for Industry and Commerce and the University Grants Committee has been set up to consider questions of advanced technological education generally, and the points raised by my hon. Friend are receiving attention.

Does my right hon. Friend endorse the view that the conferring of university status on technical colleges situated in the major industries they serve—[Horn. MEMBERS: "Order."] —and which are of approved merit, administration, and achievement——

Long supplementaries should not be read out. That is one of our rules.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that this type of technical colleges situated in the major industries which it serves is the quickest and most effective may to meet the current requirements of our industrial progress at the moment; and does he agree, in that regard, that Bradford stands preeminent?

It is because of the importance of these related questions that the Joint Committee has been set up.

Does my right hon. Friend endorse the view that, having regard to the difficulties of the building extensions in our existing universities, with the limitations of their hostel accommodation, the quicker and better way is to encourage the smaller universities?

Yes, Sir, in general I would subscribe to that view.

If the Minister does subscribe to that view, will he not reconsider the view on the grounds that there may be some value in retaining a differentiation which will avoid still further blurring the line of demarcation between education and trade apprenticeships?

I think that if my hon. Friend will study the answer I have given, he will find that matter is catered for in it.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will waive the requirements of the building regulation, as he is empowered to do, under Section 7 of the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1948, regarding the playing field for Axbridge Church of England School.

No, Sir. As I explained to thy; hon. Member in my letter of 10th August, the circumstances at Axbridge do not justify this action.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look at this matter once more and see if he can do something to bring the education authority and the parish council together in this matter? Is he aware that there is very strong local feeling and that the council have refused to meet the education authority? Can the right hon. Gentleman help?

I will look at it again, but it is not the waiving of this power which needs attention; it is the relationship between the two authorities.

Since prices and conditions have altered so substantially, would the minister reconsider all the building regulations which apply to church schools?

No, Sir, not at this stage.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware of the need of the North Riding local education authority to purchase land adjacent to the Northallerton Grammar School for the extension of the school and for the establishment of a new primary school for infant and junior pupils; that the Ministry of Works are seeking to acquire land which will be adjacent to these two schools for the exercise of prisoners from Northallerton gaol; and what steps he is taking to stop this acquisition for a purpose unsuitable to the environment of a school for young children.

I am aware that the North Riding local education authority wish to acquire this land for educational purposes and that certain difficulties have arisen. I am in communication with the other departments concerned, and will write to the hon. and gallant Member as soon as possible.

Will the Minister agree in principle that it is a very bad thing as a permanent practice to have prisoners cheek by jowl with young children, and will he give an assurance that he will find some way of getting over this difficulty?

I hesitate to give an assurance, because this has been in operation for many years and if it is now detrimental, it must have been detrimental all along. However, I am looking into it with a view to meeting the hon. and gallant Gentleman's request.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the point is that there is now a question of undertaking very large new constructional works, and before the works are started is it not essential that this problem should be dealt with?

I think that is true, but as it will be 1953 before there is a question of this work starting there is plenty of time to look into it.

Will my right hon. Friend agree that the subjects which these boys could learn from the prisoners next door, although they must be instructive, would not be suitable for a school curriculum? Does he not agree that it is undesirable that the prisoners and the boys should be in close proximity?

asked the Minister of Education whether anything is being done to comply with the request made to him by the Penketh parish meeting that, to avoid road accidents to school children, the playing field of the Penketh Council School should be opened for the use of school children after school hours and during holidays; and to what extent the children of the said school are permitted to use the playing held after school hours.

This is a matter for the Lancashire local education authority. I am, however, advised that this playing field is already used to excess for organised school activities.

Is there no chance of protecting the lives of young people in places like this where the roads are very busy on special days between Liverpool and Manchester?

Yes, but I do not think it is for this school field to do that. I think additional provision is needed for the purpose.

asked the Minister of Education what has been the effect on the school dental service of the introduction of the National Health scheme; and what steps he is taking to ensure the retention of sufficient dentists for the school dental services under the new arrangements.

A good many school dentists are resigning to set up practice under the National Health Service and recruits are not coming forward to fill their place. In consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, I am giving close attention to the means of securing a settlement of the salaries of full-time dentists in the employment of local authorities.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether he and his right hon. Friend the Minister of Health would pay particular attention to this priority service, particularly in view of the fact that this is the most important part of the dental service in the country?

Yes, Sir.

Is it not a fact that those dentists who leave the school service can make at least double the income outside, and is not the right course to raise the salaries of the school dentists?

I think I intimated that that is the point to which we are giving attention.

asked the Minister of Education why. on certain forms of application for educational places, an applicant is asked to state the profession of his father; and what bearing this has on the selection of applicants.

I am not sure what forms of application my hon. Friend has in mind, but if he will let me have further particulars I will do my best to answer his questions.

asked the Minister of Education the names of the delegates, alternative delegates and advisers who are attending the third general conference of U.N.E.S.C.O. shortly to be held at Beirut.

With permission, I will circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Education if he will give his approval to the plans for the alterations and additions to Henfield Village Hall, Gloucestershire, to which the National Council of Social Service has agreed.

The plans have not yet reached my Department. Until they are received I cannot say whether they are likely to he approved.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that my information from the chairman of the social committee there is that the plans have already been sent? When my right hon. Friend receives them will he bear in mind that this hall consists of only one room 60 feet by 20 feet, that it was rented to the Gloucestershire County Council for use as a children's clinic, that at present doctors and nurses are working under very serious difficulties, and that the carrying out of these plans will assist them very materially?

I will keep that point in mind when I see the plans.

asked the Minister of Education whether his attention has been drawn to a circular, a copy of which has been sent to him, issued by Mr. Morgan Phillips, Secretary of the Labour Party, urging the training of Labour candidates for next year's local government elections and stating that classes can be arranged in connection with the Workers' Educational Association; and whether he will give an assurance that any further grant to that association will be conditional on its taking no hand in party politics.

Yes, Sir. I have now seen the circular. The reference to classes arranged in association with the Workers' Educational Association is liable to cause misunderstanding. Any such classes would be available to all members of the community equally and would be open to inspection. The conditions of grant are well understood by the Workers' Educational Association and exclude from recognition any classes or courses organised on party political lines.

Can the Minister explain how the Labour Party came to perpetrate a circular which suggests the use of an association subsidised by the taxpayer, in order to further an object which is thus stated in the circular:

"It is vital that Labour's power on local authorities should be extended and thus lay the foundation for a further swift advance towards that great goal of Socialism and true liberty for which our movement has always worked."

How can that be explained away?

That in itself has no relationship to the organisation of classes. The information which could be obtained at those classes would be of equal value to the efficient carrying out of the duties of a local authority by a Conservative, a Liberal or a Labour member. Therefore, the organisation of the classes is not in any sense party political. If a class was organised on party political lines it would not receive a grant from the Ministry of Education.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware of the outstanding need for the better education of Conservative candidates?

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he is now able to announce what the permanent arrangements are to be for the care of British civil and military cemeteries in India and Pakistan.

No, Sir. Permanent arrangements for the care of British civil and military cemeteries in India and Pakistan are still under discussion with the ecclesiastical and other authorities concerned. I hope, however, that I shall shortly be able to make the statement which my hon. Friend desires.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I asked a similar Question over a year ago and got practically the same answer?

I did tell the hon. and gallant Member what arrangements we were making in the interim period. I have been consulting a number of eminent authorities, and I think it wiser to make the right decision a little later than the wrong decision too quickly.

Did the right hon. Gentleman take the opportunity of discussing this matter with the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India when they were over here recently?

No, Sir, I am afraid I cannot say that I did, but our High Commissioners have discussed it with them on a number of occasions.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if the cultural and educational work of the British Council in India and Pakistan will be continued and, if possible, enlarged; if separate organisations will operate in these Dominions, respectively; and if he will state the number of officers, Grades I and II, allocated to each Dominion.

Yes, Sir. The British Council has already set up offices at New Delhi and Karachi, and plans for the development of its work in India and Pakistan are in hand. The number of the staff is now 11. six of whom were recruited in India and Pakistan.

Will the Secretary of State do everything he possibly can to encourage this work in Pakistan and India, in view of the valuable educational outlook which is given to the people of those Dominions and in view of the valuable work which the British Council has done throughout the whole world?

Yes, Sir, the Government attach great importance to the maintenance of close cultural relations between India and Pakistan and this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will state the number of ex-civilian gazetted officers and non-gazetted staff recruited for the war for the Indian Ordnance service from the United Kingdom who have had their claims rejected for the payment of furlough at the termination of their service in spite of the provisions of the Government of India Defence Department. letter No. 067/1/ MG 12-A, dated 27th November, 1939, with annexure of statements 1 and 2 together with Department of Supply letter No. 067/14 (M.P.12-A), dated 14th December, 1940; and what action is he proposing to take to ensure justice being done and the proper claims of these men being settled.

Before the transfer of power, the Secretary of State for India made strong representations to the Government of India about these men. The Government of India, with whom the decision rested, admitted that the men were entitled to take furlough during the period of their contracts; but they held that there was no obligation on the Government to allow them to take furlough when their service came to an end. By a misunderstanding, however, some of the non-gazetted officers were told, when they were appointed, that they would be granted furlough when their service ended; this promise the Government of India have honoured. No such promise was made to gazetted personnel and their contracts contained nothing to support their claim to furlough at the end of their service. I do not know how many such claims have been made and rejected; but since they seem to have no legal basis, and since they were rejected before the transfer of power, I do not think it would be useful for me to raise it again with the Government of India now.

In view of the fact that these men feel that they have a grievance and a just claim, could not something be done by the Government to meet their grievance?

I will very gladly discuss the matter with the hon. Member if he so desires. I do not want to do any injustice at all, but this is a matter for the Government of India and since, as I said, it was rejected before the transfer of power, I do not think it is likely to be accepted now.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman accept the fact that responsibility must rest with His Majesty's Government, because the majority of these men were enlisted at the time the India Office was a Department of His Majesty's Government? Does the right hon. Gentleman take the line that we are not responsible for people enlisted long before the Government of India came into existence?

Not at all, but what I am saying is that the Government have, in fact, carried out their legal obligations.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make representations to the Indian Government as to the long delay in the payment of undisputed claims by the Government of India to those persons who have returned to the United Kingdom, consequent upon the termination of their contracts of service in India, including their right to free passages home; if he is aware of the hardship caused to such persons by having to pay their own passages home; and what steps is he taking to accelerate payments due and to alleviate the hardships caused by the failure to make the payments.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind cases of undisputed claims for the refund of passage costs. Except for one case, about which I have recently had correspondence with the hon. Member, I am not aware of any complaints of hardship caused by delay on the part of the Government of India to pay such claims. I will, of course, be glad to look into any similar cases which the hon. Member, or any other hon. Member may bring to my notice.

In connection with the case to which the right hon. Gentleman refers, what is to be done to alleviate hardship there?

The Government of India have admitted Mr. Taylor's claim. Certain vouchers are required before legal authority to pay exists, but the High Commissioner, at our request, has asked the Government of India for the authority to pay at once.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is proposed to continue permitting sales of British livestock to the U.S.S.R.

The export of livestock is subject to licence. Application for licences to export livestock to the U.S.S.R. will, as in the past, be considered on their merits.

In view of the note of His Majesty's Government on 6th July this year, charging the Soviet Government with engaging in threats, is it really desirable that these subsidiary war materials in the shape of our best livestock should be exported to this unfriendly power?

Export licences are issued only after consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture to see whether the export involves serious loss of food production in this country. The loss of these animals to food production is very small compared with their value in paying for essential imports which are, in fact feedingstuffs.

Could not the President of the Board of Trade export the Minister of Health?

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what quantity of sodium chlorate was exported from this country during the last 12 months;

(2) how much chlorate of soda was imported into this country during the last 12 months.

Between October, 1947, and September, 1948, exports of sodium chlorate totalled nine tons and imports 291 tons.

Could the President of the Board of Trade tell us if it is in our financial interests in this case to export, on the one hand, and import, on the other hand, simultaneously? Is he aware that this commodity is in very short supply with the farming community?

This export is of only nine tons compared with imports of 291 tons. In fact, we have no control over export licences for this particular commodity, and in view of the very small amount exported, I would not feel justified in imposing controls in this direction.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the resignation of Mr. Frank Chappell, late director of Production Efficiency.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 4th November to the hon. Members for Altrincham and Sale (Mr. Erroll) and for Moseley (Sir P. Hannon).

Is it not the fact that before his resignation Mr. Chappell told Ministers that if 25 per cent. of the money being spent by his Department had been allocated outside Government control, the production would have been four times greater? Why is it that under a Socialist Government, if a man speaks the truth, he gets sacked or has to resign.

While I would desire to pay every tribute to Mr. Chappell for the work he has done inside the Board of Trade for the Production Efficiency Service. I can only say that if his views had prevailed on that organisation the hon. Member would have been even more unhappy about the situation than he is.

That is a matter of opinion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what controls in the furniture industry he is now prepared to relax.

I regret that I am not yet in a position to make an announcement, but hope to do so very shortly.

Since the industry has been led to expect an early release of controls, would not my right hon. Friend expedite this matter in order to remove uncertainty which holds up production?

I am doing all I can to get this matter settled with a view to an early announcement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what difficulties now prevent the conclusion of a trade agreement with Yugoslavia.

Completion of a trade agreement must await the conclusion of satisfactory arrangements regarding compensation for United Kingdom property in Yugoslavia that has been nationalised. Negotiations are in progress on this matter.

Can my right hon. Friend say what are the difficulties over compensation?

They are mainly technical difficulties, but we have made it plain to the Yugoslav Government from the start that we cannot enter into a full trade agreement until this matter is satisfactorily settled.

asked the Minister of Labour how many Poles and European voluntary workers, respectively, have now been placed in industry and agriculture in the United Kingdom; and what has been the approximate cost of these schemes of training and settlement during the last two years.

Up to the end of October, 29,000 European Volunteer Workers and 8,000 Poles had been placed in agriculture and 45,000 European Volunteer Workers and 68,500 Poles in other industrial employment, making a total of 150,500. The approximate cost to the Ministry of Labour and National Service of administering the schemes for recruitment of European Volunteer Workers for the two years ended October, 1948, is £2,750,000. This represents the cost of recruitment, transportation and maintenance and welfare of these workers until they are placed in employment, together with an estimate of the placing and transference costs which arise when workers are moved to employment. It also includes similar costs for about 3,000 dependants who have been brought to this country. As the hon. Member is aware, an estimate of the costs to 31st March, 1948, to the various Departments concerned is given in the First Report of Select (1947-48) Committee on Estimates. I regret that similar figures for the period to 31st October, 1948, could not be obtained without a great amount of trouble and staff cost.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the settlement referred to in the Question is settlement of a temporary character, or permanent settlement in this country?

This is settlement of a permanent character. These people come here, working their passage to British citizenship. I should like to add that I have given the figures relating to industry as well as agriculture, and that the total number of those so classified now with us is 171,000.

How many of the Poles remaining in this country remain unemployed?

That is quite another question.

asked the Minister of Labour if his regulations permit a girl remaining at school until the age of 18 to choose her own employment in those cases where it is her first employment.

On reaching the age of 18, all persons come within the scope of the Control of Engagement Order. Permission to take a particular job is not withheld if such employment can be regarded as within the wide range of essential work.

But is it not awfully wrong that discrimination should be exercised against children leaving school? Just because a child happens to be a year or so under 18 she may choose her own employment, but if she leaves school having reached the age of 18, she is more or less directed by the right hon. Gentleman's Department.

Such discrimination, while it may exist, is not in fact exercised. What we anxiously try to do is to guide youngsters into suitable employment. If a boy or girl remains at school until 18 it would obviously be unfair to penalise the child for improving his or her education. What we do is to try to get the youngster into employment which is essential; but otherwise we do not interfere.

asked the Minister of Labour how he calculates the number of persons employed upon production for export as published in the Monthly Digest of Statistics.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Swingler) on 7th May, of which I am sending him a copy.

Is not much of the Minister's information inevitably inexact—in regard, for instance, to firms manufacturing material for use by other firms in this country? How can they possibly know what proportion of their production will ultimately be exported?

If the hon. Gentleman will look at the reply which I gave I think he will find that we make every effort to secure proper information. We are no more inexact in our replies than the hon. Gentleman sometimes is in his Questions.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many officers of his Department and regional offices disposing of applications for supplementary petrol coupons are minor Civil Service clerks.

First applications for supplementary petrol allowances are invariably checked by experienced staff. Any case presenting difficulty is referred to special assessors and then, if required, to the Regional Petroleum Officer. The number of clerical officers who deal with routine renewal applications is about 500 in the 14 regional petroleum offices throughout the country, depending, of course, on the weight of business at any particular time.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the increasing number of complaints by people applying for petrol for essential purposes? Will he look into the matter?

We are continually looking into the question of petrol supplies. By and large, no very long time elapses between the application and the issue of coupons.

Is my hon. Friend also aware that some of us have been very much impressed by the courtesy and helpfulness of his regional petroleum officers?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the regional electricity boards are infringing his regulations by cutting the supplies of electricity to persons and firms; and what action he proposes to take.

The area electricity boards discontinue supplies only when they are interrupted by technical defects, or the demand exceeds the available capacity of generating plant. I am advised that such interruptions in supply are not an infringement of electricity supply regulations.

Does the Minister know, then, on what authority these cuts are really imposed?

The Minister does know, of course. If the hon. Member would look at the Electricity Supply Regulations he would see that if there are cuts, those regulations are not infringed.

Are we now admitting that we are suffering cuts as opposed to shedding?

I think it is within the recollection of the House that from time to time there have been cuts.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why he twice invited Mr. Arthur Homer to be a member of the Coal Board; and what salary was Mr. Homer offered.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Darwen (Mr. Prescott) on 4th November.

Is the Minister aware that that reply did not help us at all in the matter? Can he confirm whether the salary offered to Mr. Horner was £5,000 a year, as Mr. Homer suggests, and say whether the offer was made before or after the Prime Minister's statement on Communists in the Civil Service?

If the hon. Member will look at my right hon. Friend's reply be will see that my right hon. Friend neither confirmed nor denied the allegation that is made.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why he sanctioned the floodlighting in Trafalgar Square and the use of neon-lighting tubes on the General Electric Building in Kingsway, London.

The floodlighting in Trafalgar Square was sanctioned in connection with the unveiling of the Jellicoe-Beatty memorial. It is being continued twice a week outside peak hours as an exception to the general restriction on floodlighting which must be maintained for the sake of fuel economy.

As regards the use of neon-lighting tubes on the General Electric Building in Kingsway, the question of sanction does not arise. I understand that the neon-tubes on this building arc merely a replacement and not for use whilst present restrictions continue.